Daily Driver Saab?

[1990C4S]

What model Saab fun and reliable? Is a Viggen low risk? I don't care how old the car is, as long as I can find a rust-free car.

I want a manual transmission, good mileage, and reliability. A four cylinder turbo seems right.

I would prefer a wagon, but a hatch would work.

I like quirky cars, I will not drive a boring appliance....(famous last words).

[SiberianDVM]

20K-Mile 1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible 5-Speed | Bring a Trailer

18k-Mile 1973 Saab Sonett III | Bring a Trailer

[onewhippedpuppy]

I had both a '93 9000 Aero and a '97 900SE with the high output turbo, both manual transmission. Loved them both, two of the most unique cars that I have owned. Close to 35 MPG on the highway but rockets with a few small upgrades. The 9000 had 235k when I sold it, still the original engine and transmission. Like most European cars they are stout mechanically but expect some annoying odds and ends. The early 9-3 hatchback and the first generation of 9-5 are as new as I would venture, the 9-3 sedan and later 9-5 were 100% badge engineered GM crap. Personally I would drive the hell out of a Viggen or an early 9-5 Aero wagon.

[1990C4S]

I should have added. I do NOT want a Saab convertible.

[jyl]

How is Saab parts availability now?

[Seahawk]

[QUOTE=SiberianDVM;9269859]20K-Mile 1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible 5-Speed | Bring a Trailer

I have been looking at that car hard.

To the OP, a friend of mine DD's a mid 1990's Saab with 300K plus on it. 4 cylinder Turbo. The thing is a hoot.

You know know everything I know about Saabs

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by jyl

How is Saab parts availability now?

I looked a while back out of curiosity, all of the common maintenance/repair stuff seems easy to find. The issue would probably be finding restoration type parts that are not normally supported by the aftermarket. The positive is that they have excellent forum support so the used market for parts is strong.

[1990C4S]

[QUOTE=Seahawk;9269902]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

20K-Mile 1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible 5-Speed | Bring a Trailer

I have been looking at that car hard.

To the OP, a friend of mine DD's a mid 1990's Saab with 300K plus on it. 4 cylinder Turbo. The thing is a hoot.

You know know everything I know about Saabs

The Saab convertibles I have been in/driven had terrible cowl shake.

[Seahawk]

[QUOTE=1990C4S;9269973]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

The Saab convertibles I have been in/driven had terrible cowl shake.

I wouldn't DD the convertible in the link...more of a once a week deal. I'll pass since I still have another season with my 560SL.

I can say that I drove across the country in the 90's Saab Turbo, from SF to Baltimore, with a high school friend when he moved his family East. I had some flying to do at China Lake then drove back with him.

We took Route 50 across Nevada and there were a few times we set the cruise control on 100 and the thing was still getting 28MPG. I really liked the car.

[Scott R]

I used to DD a Jag XJR, sure it was fun and it really moved, but with these types of cars that have limited, or no dealer support you end up waiting a few days to get even the simple stuff.

It can get old waiting a few days on a wiper motor, or a few days on a fuel damper, etc. The kinds of things that Autozone does not carry. You almost need a reliable backup for your DD.

[1990C4S]

I do have a back-up car...that's not an issue.

[tcar]

The Viggen is a rocket... seriously, but it's an Opel based GM platform as are all 9-3 and 9-5 cars.

900 SPG are very nice and fast also, true SAABs.

I've had both.

[Nickshu]

I owned 6 Saabs spanning from 1986 to 2007 model years. 900/9000/9-3s.

If you can get a classic 900 SPG (special performance group) I would go for it. The most fun one I owned of all of them for sure. 2 doors w/ hatchback. If I ever bought a Saab again this would be what I would look for.

My 9000's were great haulers and plenty quick. 4 doors with hatchback is convenient if the 3 door doesn't work for you.

I never had a 9-5 but much of the running gear is shared.

9-5 retained the "true" Saab engine until the end (except the unicorn 2010 Buick based 9-5). 9-3 went to a GM Ecotech engine in around 2003.

Stay away from the V6's, pretty much across the board, especially the early 900's with the V6.

Viggen's suffer from HORRIBLE torque steer. There used to be a "Viggen rescue kit" brace system sold aftermarket for it, not sure if it's available anymore.

There are VERY active Saab boards on the internet. SaabCentral is the best one IMO. Saabnet used to be good but it's a very old interface and has fizzled out over the past few years.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by tcar

The Viggen is a rocket... seriously, but it's an Opel based GM platform as are all 9-3 and 9-5 cars.

Fast but less of a Saab?

[Holger]

Yeah, avoid the GM/Opel platform.
Go for the older ones!

[onewhippedpuppy]

I really liked my NG900. If I recall my reading correctly it was still mostly a Saab. When they moved away from hatchbacks was the point that they became 100% a badge engineered Opel.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I really liked my NG900. If I recall my reading correctly it was still mostly a Saab. When they moved away from hatchbacks was the point that they became 100% a badge engineered Opel.

This is correct.

The NG900 (94-98) and NG9-3 (99-02) were good cars and still mostly Saab, despite that in Europe they call them GM900/GM9-3 (NG was for New Generation as they were referred to in the USA). I owned one of each and they were great cars and while they did share some GM/Opel parts/platform they were mostly engineered by Saab.

Starting with the 9-3SS/SC in 2003-on they were all GM with and Ecotech engine (SS = sports sedan/SC = sportcombi wagon), basically badge engineered Opels with much less modified by Saab themselves than in the past. Still reliable (my 07 9-3 was more or less a good car) but much more bland and got surprisingly poor gas mileage.

The 9-5 was mostly Saab until 2009. There are a few of the GM/Buick based 2010 9-5s in the USA but at this point they are basically unicorns.

The 9-7 and the 9-2..well we'd prefer just to forget those ever existed. LOL.

[Nickshu]

This is a good bit from Top Gear on Saab:

Part 1: http://www.topgear.com/videos/jeremy-clarkson/tribute-saab-part-12-series-18-episode-5

Part 2: http://www.topgear.com/videos/jeremy-clarkson/tribute-saab-part-22-series-18-episode-5

[1990C4S]

Thanks for the info. The desirable cars seem to be pretty rare. The humdrum GM melded crap are everywhere.

[KNS]

Although a bit older than the OP is probably interested in I always liked the 99s (the 900 too).